Electric fixture



F. L. BUTLER.

ELECTRIC FIXTURE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 26, 1920.

Ii III Patented Sept. l20, 19.21A.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

` ATTI/5 for guiding the electrical conducting mem FRANK LOWELL BUTLER, or cHIcAeo, Immers.

ELECTRIC rix'rtinii.v

Specification of Lettera `Patent.

Application illed November 26, 1920. Serial No. 428,496;

To all Iwhom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRANK LOWELL BU'r- LER, a citizen of the United States, and res1,

dent of Chicago, in the county of Cook, and State of Illinois,'have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electric Fixtures, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to. improvements 1n electric fixtures, and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of myinvention is to provide improvement over the electric fixture disclosed in my'prior ap licationv for patent, Serial No. 423,638, file November 12, 1920, said improvement consisting in provision in a fixture of the type described of novel means bers through a lateral aperture in the stem and for maintaining the stem in assembled condition.

Afurther object of my invention is to rovide an improvement over the electric gxture disclosed in my rior application for Letters Patent, Serial o. 423,400, filed Nov. 11, 1920, in Which I disclose a tubular insulating member threaded interiorly at its lower end for engagement with a nipple and a casing mounted on the tubular insulating member, having a flange abutting the insulating member and being maintained on the latter by a fitting screwed onfthe nipple,-s aid improvement consisting in the provision of diametrically opposed grooves in the edges of the inwardly turned fiange ofthe casing and in the provision of a somewhat different` means for supporting said nipple.

A further object of my invention is Ito providea device of the type described that is relatively simple in construction, thor-` oughly effective for the purpose intended, and not likely to get out of order easy.

A further object of my invention lis to provide a device of the type described in which] the numberv of component, elements are reduced to aminimum, thereby permitting the provision of a device that can be manufactured chea ly and is thoroughly practical commercial y.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is il ustrated in the accomdevice.

Fi 6, and

wall o'f the insulating member. 4'nular groove 9 is positioned at a spaced dis- Patented Sept". 20, 1921.

panying drawings', forming part of this ap- I plication in which- Figure 1 is a central section through the preferred form of the device,

Fig. A2 1s a similar View of a fragmentary portion of a modified form of the device, I yF1gs. 3, 4 and 5 are similar views, partly in elevation and partly in section of fragmentary portions of modified 'forms of the F1gs. 6 and 7 are similar sectional views -of fragmentary portions of still other modified forms of the Vsame device,`

Fig. 8 is a section along the line 8-8 of igs. 9, 10,11', 12, and 13 are vertical sec,-

tional. views of fragmentary portions of stems in other modified forms of the device.

Referring now to Fig. l, it willbe noted that I niake use of a fixed'support such as a gas pipe 1 that depends 2. A tubular insulating member 3`is threaded exteriorly at 4 adjacent its upper end for engagement with a coupling 5 that -is fitted on the threaded end of the gas pipe 1. The coupling 5 is formed with the usual transverse partition 6 therein intermediate its length.

A tubular metallic'member 7`is projected over the lower1 portion of the insulating membei` 3 and is formed withan inwardly extending flange 8 at its upper end, arranged to enter an annular groove 9 in the outer The antance from the lower end of the insulating member 3, wherefore a sufficient lengthI of the tubular insulating member 3 vis kdisposed between the lower end of the coupling 5 and the upper end of the metallic tubular member 7 to thoroughly insulate the latter member from the coupling and to preclude the possibility of an across the gap. A diametrically disposed pin 10 extending through'the walls of the insulating member 3 and the tubular metallic member 7 aids in maintaining the flanged end 8 in the groove 9 against a stress placed on. the tubular metallic member by the weight of an electric lighting fixture, not shown, that will be supported thereby.

The tubular metallic member 7 is lformed from a ceiling electric current passing is inserted within the tubular metallic mem- 'ber 7 at the uppcr'end theregf andis movedinto .the position shown. AnV eye member -13 1s4 formed with an exteriorly threaded lateralfa erture 18l inthe tubular metallicv member. byinclined coperating lugs or tongues 1 9 and 20 that are inte ral with the tubular metallic membery 7. he .guiding member so described is provided by making slits or kerfs through the walls ofthe tubular metallic member 7 at diametrically opposed points and at spaced distances from the upper end of the latter. The portions ofthe walls outlined by such kerfs. are bent inwardly until the adjacent surfaces thereof contact, as shown. i

A canopy 21 is vmounted on the tubular metallic member 7 and secured in adjusted position therealong by means of a vset screw 22.

\ several parts described can be assembledv From the foregoing description of the various 4parts of they device, the operation thereof may be readily understood. The

quickly and readily to provide a fixture that is at once effective for'the purpose intended, simple in construction, strongand durable, and ornamental in appearance. Heretofore difficulty has been experienced in guiding the electrical conductlngl wires from the stem 7 into position to engage with the electrical conductin means, not shown, that are ordinarily insta led to depend from the ceiling 2. Itlwill be seen that the guiding lugs or tongues 19 4andv20 will divert the wires 16 throu h the opening 18 and that the delay\ in instal ing a fixture occasioned heretofore on account of the time consumed in fishing for the wires -16`will be obviated. I y

In Fig. 2 Ishow a modiied form of the same device in which a tubular metal member 30 is `substituted for the insulating member 3; The tubular member [30` is provided with an annular-groove 31 adapted to" receive the ange 8 of the tubular stem mem- 1 ber 7. A pin 32 extending through the walls tive ea p f^30`i threaded exteriorl p 6o of the tubular metal member 30 and of the stem member7 insures the maintenance of the members 7 and 30 in ad'usted position relaer. The tu ular metal member at 33 adjacent its upper end and is there ore adapted for operative engagement .with the coupling 5 or with an ordinary insulating joint, not shown,

if the requirements of the service to which the device is applied are such as to necessitate the provision of an insulated stem.

provide electric brac ets.

A gpidington ting t e Iside wal of the member 7 adjacent the upper end thereof and by bending the portion outlined by the slit inwardly until vthe end thereof contacts with the'inner wall of thel metallic member 7 The electrical conducting Imember v16 will bel uided throughthe aperture -35 that is provi the displacement of the tongue 34.

Refering now to Figs. 3, 4, and 5 it will beobserved that I ma adapt the device to In the device shown in Fig. 3 a bracket member 40 has an exteriorly threaded tubular extension 41 arranged toenga e the threaded bore of the nut 1-2. It wil be understood that the bracket member 40 is adapted for operative connection .with a socket or the like, notshown, that supports an ordinaryv electric lighting fixture. The electrical conducting wlres 16 pass into` the tubular metallic member 7 through the bore 42 of the extension 41.l

In the form of the device shown in Fig. 4, a close nipple`50 engages the threaded bore of thevnut 12. A suitable bracket member 51 is formed with an .interiorly threaded portion 52 for engagement with the end of the nipple 50. The electrical conducting wires are passed into the tubular metallic member 7 through the nip le 50. f

' In the form of the evice shown in Fig. 5, an elbow is fitted on the projecting end ofthe nipple 50. The electrical conducting .wires 16 are passed into the tubular member 7 through the elbow 60 as shown.

In the form of the device'shown in Fig. 6

-the tubular metallic member 7 is formed with an inwardl extending flan e 'at its lower end. The ange 65 is turne u wardly at 66 and supports .a washer 67. he upturned' portion 66 of the flange 65 is formed with diametrically opposed grooves 68, adapted to engage thei remote walls of a link 69 that has spring qualities and is arranged in the position shown by insertion into the stem at the upper end thereof. 'The link 69.

.is formed with a. shoulder. 704 adapted to rest upon a washer 67 and to be supported thereby. The engagement of the side members 'of the link 69 with the. walls of the groove 68 prevents rotatable movement of the former.

In Fig. 7, I show a portion of a form of the device adapted for use with a drop cord 75. .A washer 76 that is formed of mica or the like is supported by the flange 11 of the tubular metallic member 7 and rejects inwardly beyond the inner edge of) the flange. A spring member 7 7 surmounting the washer 76 maintains the latter in the position shown when the drop cord 75 is passed upwardly into the tubular member 7 through the central opening 78 in the washer 76.

In Figs. 9 and 10, I show a tubular member 80 reduced at 81 adjacent its upper end.

e 34 is pro-vided by slited by The tubular member 8O is formed with tongues 82 and 83 that are integral therewith and provide a guiding member similar to that formed by the tongues 19 and 2O as hereinbefore described. The reduced upper portion of the tubular member 80 is threaded interiorly at 84 or exteriorly at 85 for engagement with suitable fittings such as coupling 5 or'a stud (not shown) that ordinarily depends from the ceiling 2.

Referring'now to Figs. 11 and 12, I show a tubular metallic member 90 provided with a tongue 91 to form a guiding member that is precisely identical with that formed by the tongue 34 (see Fig. 2) and therefore requires no further description. An interiorly threaded socket member 92 adapted for enagement with the gas pipe 1 or a similar tting is inserted within the tubular member 90 at the upper end thereof and is then welded thereto 0r secured in place in any other suitable manner. In the form of the device illustrated in Fig. 12 an interiorly threaded tubular insert 93 is secured in place within the tubular` member 90 in the samel manner.

In the form of the device shown in Fig. 13 a coupling 95 has lan upper vsocket 96 threaded interiorly for engagement with the gas pipe 1 or a similar fitting and a lower socket 97 adapted to receive the insulating member 3. The wall of the lower socket 97 is' turned inwardly at its lower end to provide a flange 98 adapted to enter an annular groove 99 in the insulating member 3f when the latter is sprung into the position shown. A pin 100 passes through the walls of the socket 97 and the insulating member 3' to complete the assembly.

1. In the electric fixture, the combination of a tubular metallic member having an inwardly extending flange at one end thereof,

-said tubular member having an opening through its side wall at a spaced distance from one end thereof, said opening being provided by making a slit in the side wall and by bending the portion of the wall defined by the slit diagonally across the bore of the tubular member into position to guide a fiexible member contacting therewith through the opening, means for connecting the tubular metallic member with a fixed support, means engaging with said tubular metallic member for connecting the latter with an electric lighting fixture element to be supported thereby, and fiexible electrical conducting means adapted for operative connection with the electric lighting fixture element,` said flexible conducting means being passed into said tubular member at one end thereof` and guided therefrom through said aperture by said guiding member.

2. In an electric fixture, the combination of a fixed support, a tubular insulating member having an annular groove in' its outer wall at a spaced distance fromthe remote end`thereof, means for securing the insulating member to the fixed support, a tubular member arranged to incase the remote portion of said insulating member and formed with an inwardly extending fiange arranged to enter said annular groove, said second named tubular member having Sa diagonally extending guide across its bore at a spaced distance from the insulating member, said guide being formed by making kerfs through the side walls of said tubular metallic member at diametrically opposed points and bending the portions outlined by said kerfs inwardly i'nto contact with each other, thereby providing opposite lateral apertures, said tubular metallic member being formed with an inwardly extending flange at the remote end thereof, means carried by the flange and partially disposed within the second named tubular` member for connecting with an electric vlighting fixture element, and fiexible electrical conducting means passed into said second named tubular member and being guided therefrom through one of said lateral aper tures by said guide.

3. In an electric fixture, a stem comprising a tubular member having a portion of its side wall displaced inwardly at a spaced distance from one end thereof to provide a lateral aperture in said wall and a relatively varranged guide member adapted to guide a 

